Lecture 16Outline of Last LectureI. Marijuanaa. Definition of Marijuanai. Classificationb. Historyc. Acute Toxicityd. Hypothesis and the Legalizing Marijuana Outline of Current Lecture II. Marijuanaa. Chronic Toxicityb. Medical UseIII. Alcohol as a Social Beveragea. Alcohol Itselfb. Historyc. Patterns of Used. PharmacologyCurrent LectureTolerance effects among marijuana users do not generally occur. It appears that experienced users learn how to inhale more deeply and ingest more THC than novice users. Physical withdrawal symptoms, indicative of physical dependence, occur when marijuana dosages are moderate and consumed over a relatively short period of time. Signs of psychological dependence will also be observed in the form of marijuana craving, but these effects may be, in part, a factor of marijuana use in conjunction with other drugs. In any case, levels of obsessive drug-seeking and compulsive drug-taking behavior are nowhere near the degree associated with other drugs such as alcohol, opiates, or stimulants. No conclusive evidence of adverse cardiovascular effects exists. Marijuana smoking, however, presents the risk of inhaling tars and other toxic agents in the smoke. Respiratory problems can result. Evidence of immunological deficits, birth defects, or neurological damage is either nonexistent or inconclusive. On the other hand, recent studies indicate that specific brain abnormalities associated with long-term heavy marijuana use have a negative impact on successful information-processing abilities. These neuroanatomical changes may not be reversible. During the 1960s, the concept that marijuana led to the amotivational syndrome—characterized by a feeling of apathy and indifference to long-term planning—was proposed, but has been since discredited. Currently, the potential for marijuana as a therapeutic drug has focused on the treatment of nausea and weight loss resulting from AIDS and chemotherapy during cancer treatment. Since 1985, two legal prescription drugs containing THC have been available: dronabinol (Marinol) and nabilone (Cesamet). However, advocacy for the use of marijuana itself has grown considerably in recent years. U.S. federal These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. BIOL 3303 1st Editionauthorities have opposed the reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule I (defined as having no medical benefits) to a Schedule II controlled substance. The issue of legalizing marijuana smoking for medical purposes is currently in flux in the United States. As of mid-2010, fourteen U.S. states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington) have authorized marijuana smoking for the relief of pain and discomfort or the control of nausea and weight loss, when prescribed by a physician. Now we will talk about the social beverage known to America as alcohol. First thing we will talk about is the main ingredients in alcohol. Ethyl alcohol is produced from organic material with a sugar content through a process called fermentation. There is a wide range of fruits and vegetables that can be fermented into some form of alcoholic beverage. Fermentation alone achieves a maximal alcohol content of about 15–16 percent. Starchy grains are fermented in a process called brewing that produces beer. High levels of alcohol content can be achieved through the process of distillation—up to approximately 95 percent. Products of distillation, calleddistilled spirits or liquor, are commonly designated by levels of proof, with the proof of an alcoholic beverage being twice the percentage of alcohol content.Fermented honey was probably the original alcoholic beverage, dating back to 8000 B.C. In the 1700s, widespread consumption of gin (a distilled spirit flavored with juniper berries) became a major social problem, particularly in large cities in England. Consumption of rum and whiskey in the United States was extensive, several times the level in present-day society. The growing influence of the temperance movement, beginning around 1830, resulted in a slow decline in alcohol consumption. In 1920, nationwide prohibition of alcohol sales and distribution in the U.S. was enacted into law, later to be repealed in 1933.Alcohol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Its metabolism and eventual excretion is achieved at a constant rate—approximately 100 milligrams of alcohol per hour per kilogram of body weight—through the enzymatic processes in the liver. Biotransformation of alcohol relies upon two enzymes: alcohol dehydrogenaseand acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. The metabolic rate of alcohol is influenced by gender, race, and the presence of certain medications in the blood. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is measured by the percentage of grams of alcohol in the blood relative to 100 milliliters of blood, expressed as a percentage. The minimal criterion for driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Canada and all U.S. states is a 0.8 percent BAC. Alcohol is a CNS depressant. Acute alcoholic poisoning can produce death by a stoppage of breathing. The LD50 BAC level for alcohol is approximately 0.50 percent. Chronic effects on the brain and the rest of the body are described in Chapter 8.These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a